law
DBR and the Rhode Island Real Estate Commission
Rhode Island licensing law (R.I. Gen. Laws chapter 5-20.5) is administered by the Department of Business Regulation (DBR), whose director issues, renews, suspends, and revokes licenses. The Real Estate Commission sits inside DBR, adopts rules, helps shape the exam, and advises on policy. The Governor appoints nine members, including three brokers licensed at least five years and four public members, plus two ex officio voting members (the attorney general and DBR director), for five-year terms. Managing property for others as a regular business requires a broker license.
- Exam tip
- 'Nine plus two, five and five.' An opinion of value prepared for a fee is broker activity; executors, attorneys, and owners selling their own homes are the usual exempt distractors.
- Example
- An unlicensed person who manages three buildings for other owners for 8% of rents is acting as a broker and cannot sue to collect his fee.
Related terms & state variants
Sources
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Last verified: 2026-10-23